MFA Abroad: Eligibility, Colleges, Fees, Exams and Jobs

Why Study Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Abroad?

Fine Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts are all elaborate terms defining the various forms of art. Painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and poetry were the first five main Fine Art subjects. Later on, performing arts such as Theatre and Dance has also been associated with Fine Arts. However, we are in this article going to talk about the first subjects of fine arts and how candidates wanting to pursue Maters in Fine Arts abroad can benefit from this article.

MFA Abroad Eligibility & Requirements

Let us take a look at the eligibility guidelines for pursuing Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) abroad. Candidates should be well reminded that we are going to be talking about pursuing Fine Arts at an advanced level i.e. Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) eligibility guidelines.

Academic Requirements

Candidates looking to pursue MFA should ideally be holding a Bachelor’s Degree in a subject related to arts. Since the academic requirements are never set on stone, hence graduates belonging from any field with the required skills and passion for Fine Arts should check the academic requirements and apply accordingly.

Work Experience Requirements

Candidates looking to pursue MFA abroad would be required to submit a portfolio of their previous work. A budding artist would always allow his work to speak. Precise submission guidelines would be available to the candidate on the official website of the university. Candidates would be required to adhere to the same. It is important to show creative work that speaks about the skills and talent of the student for a better chance of acceptance.

Application Requirements

Since the application would be for pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), the requirements could vary depending on the art school. We have provided general application requirements (but not limited to) for your MFA application process. 

• Relevant Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university
• Portfolio of past work experiences
• English Proficiency Test
• GRE Scores (subject to country)
• Statement of Purpose
• Letter of Recommendation
• Resume (CV)
• Admission Essay

MFA Application Process

All applications are online. Hence, the students would be required to read the admission guidelines before submitting their international student application form. Candidates would be required to pay the application fee and also attach all relevant documents to start their application process. Every university would have a deadline for application submission. Candidates looking to apply should adhere to this. Candidates seeking financial aid should apply early to start the scholarship process. 

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MFA Abroad vs MFA in India

Studying arts abroad would positively give students an edge over students studying in India as pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts abroad would enable the student access to state-of-the-art university campuses, world-class faculty, and above all a globally recognized working degree. Candidates studying abroad would also get an opportunity to practice their profession in a foreign country and have a chance to settle abroad if the individual so wishes. Studying abroad would come at a higher price than studying in India. Students can opt for scholarships and education loans to ease the financial burden. More information on financial aid and scholarships for art schools can be found towards the end of the article. 

Exams for MFA Abroad

Candidates appearing for Master of Fine Arts (MFA) may be required to appear for their GRE exam. It may not be mandatory for your university admission but would greatly improve your chances of admission. A lot of universities would also require candidates to appear for an English proficiency exam such as TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. As mentioned earlier, rules are never set on stone. Candidates are always advised to shortlist popular MFA colleges abroad and check the eligibility criteria for each and apply accordingly.

MFA Specialization

The study of Fine Arts is as vast as it is diverse with endless possibilities of pursuing your specialization. Candidates should opt for an area of study that only enhances their artistic skills to the next level amounting to a profuse knowledge of art. Popular specialization in Fine Arts include:

1. Acting
2. Art history
3. Creative writing
4. Dance
5. Design
6. Filmmaking
7. Photography
8. Theater
9. Visual Arts, classified further into:

Top University & Colleges for MFA Abroad

Candidates wanting to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) abroad would want to know more about the top universities for fine art. Given below is a list of the top-ranked Art colleges abroad for 2022. Candidates can click on each college name to know about the courses offered, the eligibility guidelines, the fee structure, and much more

* Data sourced from QS Top Universities

Popular Destinations for MFA Abroad

Candidates wanting to study art abroad would want to apply to the top countries teaching Masters in Fine Arts to students. Let us take a look at the top countries for students wanting to pursue MFA abroad. The United States of America, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, the Nordic Countries (Denmark, Finland, and Sweden), Italy, and France are popular art destinations. These countries also have one of the largest numbers of art schools for candidates to choose from.

Country-wise average fees for MFA Abroad

Tuition and living costs are one of the most important determinants of studying abroad. While state-of-the-art international campuses, global exposure, world-renowned faculty, a variety of courses to choose from push students to study abroad, high tuition fees and living costs do the opposite. Hence, we are providing readers with the cost of living and tuition fees of select universities. Candidates can visit our website for a list of universities, courses on offer, eligibility guidelines, and know about the fee structure for pursuing a Master of Fine Arts abroad. 

United States of America

The cost of studying MFA in USA is INR 29.66 Lakhs for the first year. Students would be required to spend INR 21.67 Lakhs for first-year tuition fees and 7.99 as living costs.

United Kingdom

The cost of studying MFA in UK is INR 20.00 Lakhs for the first year. Students would be required to spend INR 14.90 Lakhs for first-year tuition fees and 5.10 as living costs.

Australia

The cost of studying MFA in Australia is INR 22.41 Lakhs for the first year. Students would be required to spend INR 17.08 Lakhs for first-year tuition fees and 5.34 as living costs.

Canada

The cost of studying MFA in Canada is INR 13.50 Lakhs for the first year. Students would be required to spend INR 8.66 Lakhs for first-year tuition fees and 4.84 as living costs.

MFA Jobs and Career Opportunities

On the successful completion of your Master of Arts (MFA) abroad, the next thing to look forward is to land yourself a dream job. It goes without saying that a student pursuing a Master's of Fine Arts would primarily be an artist. However, candidates should never limit themselves to one particular role. Graduates should always aim for roles that require their individuals to push themselves, hone their skills, and redefine boundaries. Job prospects of Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A) abroad include

• Artist
• Arts administrator
• Photojournalist
• Teacher/tutor

Scholarships to Study MFA Abroad

One of the drawbacks of studying abroad is the high cost of tuition fees and living costs incurred by the student because of a number of factors. The poor strength of the Indian rupee against the foreign currency being prime. However, candidates who have a passion for studying abroad would make their dream come true. Candidates who would prefer to obtain an education loan or financial aid could check out a list of available scholarships to apply from.